May 25, 2011HARDY — A Pocahontas woman who was a passenger in a vehicle that pulled into the path of a Peterbilt truck within the city limits of Hardy on Monday died instantly, according to Hardy Patrolman James Hutchison’s written report.The accident occurred 6:48 p.m. at the intersection of state Highway 175 and U.S. Highway 63 after a strong thunderstorm had moved through the area, Hardy Police Chief Ernie Rose said. It was raining and the roadways were wet, Hutchison said.

May 25, 2011NEWARK — City offices at Newark will be closed Monday for the Memorial Day observance, said Recorder-treasurer Joanne Langston.However, trash/garbage will be picked up that day but workers will start the pickup earlier than usual.“Garbage pickup will start at 7 a.m. Monday. They’re starting early so they can finish up earlier because of the holiday,” Langston said.City offices will reopen at 8 a.m. Tuesday.

May 25, 2011ASH FLAT — “Barns and Buggies” is the theme for this year’s Sharp County Fair, which will be July 25-30, said Nancy Orr, fair board secretary.Commercial booth set-up will take place from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 25, she said. Family living, horticulture and field crops will be from 2-7 p.m. the same day.“The fair catalog has gone to press and should be out the last of June of the first of July,” Orr said. “There are new exhibits to be entered, so be sure to check and see what you can enter.”

May 25, 2011NEWPORT — A district-wide law enforcement officer’s seminar will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday in the fellowship hall of the First United Methodist Church, 217 Laurel St., Newport. The purpose of the conference is to brief law enforcement officers throughout the Third Judicial District concerning Act 570, also known as “The Public Safety Improvement Act” which will substantially change many criminal offenses and takes effect on July 27.Members of the prosecuting attorney’s offices will conduct the briefing. More than 50 law enforcement agents are expected to attend.

May 25, 2011Independence County offices will be closed Monday in observance of Memorial Day, according to County Judge Robert Griffin.Even though offices will be closed, the regular Monday trash and recycling pickup will run as scheduled. Monday’s route is the area west of Highway 167 and north of the White River (northwestern quadrant of the county).Griffin reminded everyone to “give honor to our veterans who gave their lives for the rights we have today as Americans during this special long weekend.”County offices will resume normal business hours on Tuesday.

May 25, 2011With the opening of a new Colton’s Steakhouse & Grill at 1553 Saint Louis St. comes three questions that manager Debbie Johnson hears several times a day.Will there be two Colton’s? If not, who is taking your old spot? And, will you be serving liquor? The answers are: only one Colton’s, Mi Ranchita III (from Eagle Mountain shopping center) and no.“The question about liquor is probably number two in popularity right now,” Johnson said during an interview with the Guard recently. “At this time we are not pursuing a liquor license.”

May 25, 2011Health insurance for city of Batesville employees is going up 10 percent, but officials are unsure of how much of that will be passed on to the 101 employees on the plan.Tuesday night, City Clerk Denise Johnston told the council that rates from the Arkansas Municipal League will increase by $30.50 for employees and an additional $37 for dependent coverage (nearly $68 for employees and their families, if covered).

May 25, 2011ARKADELPHIA — Three Batesville residents were among the students receiving degrees from Ouachita Baptist University May 14. Amy Hazelrigg, Kate Shell and Randi Wilson all received degrees.Challenging Ouachita Baptist University’s graduating class of 2011 to “use what you have gained here in service of God and humankind wherever you may go in this needy world,” President Rex M. Horne Jr. presided over the university’s 124th spring commencement exercises.